Op-Ed: The Case for Annexation
Note from Aesop: I owe you all a follow-up post on last week's budget workshop. I should be able to get to it sometime next week, after which I shall be quite content to never have to type the words "millage" and "rate" in succession ever again. Fingers crossed.
In the meantime, I'm pleased to present a thoughtful, timely, and well-written op-ed from a fellow reader and neighbor, Christina Villamil. Christina is a dedicated professional with experience as a Chief of Staff to CEOs and family offices, focusing on strategic planning and operational management. Residing in Little Gables, she combines her professional experience with a commitment to community engagement and family life.
As you probably know, primary elections are approaching on August 20th, with early voting taking place this weekend. On the ballot, voters will find a question regarding the annexation of Little Gables as part of what could be described as a non-binding referendum, or perhaps a very formal and expensive poll. If that last part strikes you as being a bit strange, worry not. You’re not alone. Very little makes sense in Coral Gables these days.
In any event, happy voting, opining, or whatever the hell they’re calling it.
Dear Coral Gables Residents,
On August 20, you have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the future of our community. By voting for the annexation of Little Gables, you can help significantly enhance the safety, value, and growth of Coral Gables. Your vote in favor of the Non-binding Straw Ballot on Annexation of Little Gables will encourage the City Commission to continue exploring the potential annexation of Little Gables, including costs and benefits to Coral Gables residents.
Understanding Annexation
Annexation involves extending our city’s boundaries to include adjacent areas like Little Gables, which are not currently within our jurisdiction. This process allows Coral Gables to provide its services, infrastructure, and governance to the newly included area, fostering uniformity and cohesion in the city's management and development.
The Case for Annexing Little Gables
Little Gables is a unique area, as it is almost entirely surrounded by Coral Gables. This enclave situation is not only inefficient but also creates fragmented and uneven service delivery. By annexing Little Gables, we can eliminate this absurd boundary, creating a more cohesive and manageable area for our safety services and community development.
Key Benefits of Annexing Little Gables:
Increased Safety for North Gables: Squaring off the northern Coral Gables boundary at SW 8th Street will create a more cohesive and manageable area for our safety services. This redefined boundary will enhance the effectiveness of our police and fire departments, ensuring a safer environment for all residents. Chief Hudak stated, "My position as Police Chief is that if we square off the city, it is much easier to patrol one border than three borders.”
Expansion of Our Tax Base: Annexing Little Gables will bring additional homes and businesses into the City of Coral Gables, boosting the Coral Gables tax base. This increase in revenue will provide more resources for public services, infrastructure improvements, and community programs, benefiting all residents.
Enhanced Zoning and Code Compliance: With the City of Coral Gables gaining control over the zoning and code compliance in Little Gables, we can ensure consistent and high standards across the entire area. This will help maintain the aesthetic and structural integrity of properties, enhancing the overall appeal of our community.
Incentives for Improvement and Property Value Enhancement: The annexation will incentivize improvements in the current Little Gables area, fostering development and beautification projects. These enhancements will directly contribute to increasing the value of homes in the northern section of Coral Gables, providing long-term benefits for homeowners.
Avoiding an SB 102 Disaster
A critical point to consider is the potential impact of SB 102, a state bill that could lead to developments like the one forthcoming on the Sears site on 37th Avenue across from Miracle Mile. Without annexation, Little Gables remains vulnerable to such developments, which may not align with the standards and expectations of Coral Gables residents. By annexing Little Gables, we can ensure that any development in the area adheres to our city’s stringent zoning and code compliance regulations, preventing undesirable projects that could disrupt the character and quality of our community.
How We Got to This Point and Next Steps
This process began with the City of Coral Gables providing a petition to the residents of Little Gables, asking whether they supported annexation by Coral Gables. A set number of petitions were required for the issue to move forward. The residents of Little Gables conducted a grassroots campaign, led by Little Gables residents, to obtain more than the required amount.
The City Commission decided to seek input from Coral Gables residents on their interest in annexing Little Gables into our city. Following the August 20th election, the City Commission will determine whether to continue exploring annexation. If the decision is to proceed, the City Commission will submit an application to Miami-Dade County requesting the annexation of Little Gables. After the application is reviewed and approved by the County Commission, the residents of Little Gables will have the opportunity to vote on joining Coral Gables. If a majority of Little Gables residents vote in favor, Coral Gables will officially annex Little Gables. This will not be a fast process, and the current ballot measure is simply a preliminary step in considering whether to pursue the annexation of Little Gables.
We believe that the annexation of Little Gables is a crucial step towards a safer, more prosperous, and more unified Coral Gables. Your support in this initiative is vital, and we encourage you to participate in the upcoming vote. Together, we can build a brighter future for Coral Gables.
Your friend and neighbor,
Christina Villamil
Little Gables Resident
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Thanks Christina for taking the time to do this. I speak on behalf of several of my Little Gables neighbors who support annexation for various reasons. 1. Removes the enclave that has been created and goes against County rules (Little Gables is surrounded by CG on three sides and sticks out like a sore thumb) 2. Increased quality of police and fire. County fire station is over 2 miles away and the police station is about 8 miles away. Just think of response times, which have been recorded in numerous instances to be lacking. 3. The tax increases for my home is estimated to be around $750 if annexation happens. My membership alone at the country club costs me about $900 more for not being a resident, so that math alone is a no-brainer. That doesn't even include Youth Center after school, summer camps, Venetian pool, etc. 4. AirBnB's are proliferating in LG, this is taking away the fabric of the neighborhood and I'd much rather have neighbors instead of visitors. This is a single family neighborhood for the most part 5. Future development along LG's corridors (SW 8th Street and LeJeune primarily) can be developed at 250 units per acre under the new state law, Live Local Act. This has the potential to create out of scale development surrounding LG AND CG. Under CG rules, the allowed density for these projects would be much lower 6. More tree canopy would be welcome as in CG.
I could go on and on and it is so hard for me to believe that people in my neighborhood are against this. I can only hope that CG residents can see the benefit of at the very least exploring the idea because at the end of the day, this is a straw vote and there is still a long process ahead for annexation to become a reality.
I understand both sides of this discussion. To be honest, as a Coral Gables resident, I do not think that annexation will have much of an adverse effect on the services I receive or the city's finances over the long term. I do recognize that having some say in development of the commercial property in Little Gables is a benefit to the city and to the area in general, but as it stands right now, if someone were to come in with a live local project there is little that Coral Gables could do to stop it. That said, because of the established limits in the city's zoning code, I believe that live local would result in a lower height and less dense project in Little Gables if the city were to annex, as opposed to if it were to remain under county jurisdiction.
I do not understand the effort to kill the process with the straw ballot. There is an established process that all stakeholders must follow. If our elected officials, who we elected to represent us and who claim that they are listening, feel that residents oppose annexation, why not just abandon the process? All it takes is a resolution. The straw ballot has been introduced at a late stage in the process. Why not just let the process play out? As to Little Gables, If the majority of residents oppose annexation they will vote it down. Thus far, the community has met the initial 20% requirement, why disenfranchise those that who signed the petition? This is undemocratic.
You might say that the straw ballot is a form of listening. It may very well be, to a certain extent. However, I see an element of abdication of responsibility by our commission. When I vote this week, I will vote "YES," solely because I think the codified process should be followed.